Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-12
Sanitation.

In view of the fact that the season of
the year is approaching when particu-
lar attention should be paid to the work
of cleaning up, we few days ago asked
a prominent city official who is not con-
nected with the sanitary department,
but is in position to know the truth,
what the sanitary condition of the city
was. He replied that it was very good
indeed, and that the sanitary ordinances
were being rigidly enforced. This will
be welcome news to every intelligent
citizen yet we believe that compare
lively few even of the most intel
ligent will appreciate all it implies.
Sanitary science is as yet in its
infancy, but it is by far the
most important science OF the day.
II is q science whose value increases
with the density of population and
whose possibilities for good are almost
beyond computation. Were it gene
rally known what the construction of
sewers. house-to-house inspection, the
removal of garbage, the use of disin-
fectants, &C., have done in recent years
in the way of preventing disease and
saving human life, the revenue derived
from fines imposed for the violation of
sanitary regulations would be small in
deed. Were itgenerally understood how
great pestilence may be bred in q hand
full of decaying garbage, or what a de-
stroying element may Turk in an invent
Hated house or a neglected corner of a
yard, there would be very little use
for sanitary police. Were the extent
to which death haunts little pools of
stagnant water appreciated every house
holder would be his own sanitary Off
Ger. That we do not overestimate the
importance of sanitation, and cannot
be too earnest in impressing the sub
ject upon the attention OF all classes,
there can be no question. There
is abundant evidence to support all
We have said. We find this evil
dence in the fact that sanitation is
a leading topic Of discussion before
the prominent scientific bodies of
the world, in the existence OF sani-
tary publications as o distinct depart
ment of literature, in the organization
of sanitary associations supported
by private contributions, and in incon-
troyertible statistics showing how the
death rate has been reduced and disease
diminished by the enforcement of sani-
tary regulations. In recent address
delivered in London, on "the Progress
Of Sanitation as shown byits life-saving
results in England during the reign of
Queen VICTORIA" Captain DOUGLASS
GALLON, G. b., +. r. S., gives some
facts and figures which not only boards
of health and sanitary police, but
eyeryhouseholder, would do well to keep
in view. Indeed the address, as a
whole, should be studied by every men,
Der Of every board of health every
where. The subject Of sanitation is one
to which Captain GALLON has devoted
years of study. Az an authority ON such
mattershe is unquestioned. His address
is about as exhaustive as possible con-
sidering the space it occupies in print.
We give three very suggestive extracts
from the paper, which, we think, viii
be Of especial value in drawing public
attention to the necessity of thclough
sanitation. In speaking Of the report OF
the poor-law commissioners Of lS39l42
Captain CATION says:
IN illustration Of the loss caused to the nation
BY those preyentibIe diseases theyi zDontioned